Apparatus for assembling storage battery elements



Jan. 6, 1953 A. D. LUND 2,624,106

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING STORAGE BATTERY LMENTS INVENToR. HRT/fw? 0.L11/vn F770 NET5 A. D. LUND Jan. 6, 1953 APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLINGSTORAGE BATTERY ELEMENTS 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 8. 1949 s NN N EUR VL w MU. #N M lklw a Jan. 6, 1953 A. D. I UND 2,624,106

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING STORAGE BATTERY ELEMENTS 12 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed Jan. 8. 1949 INVENToR. HRT/luf? 0. Ll/ND #Tron/Eis @MMM Jan. 6,1953 A. D. LUND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING STORAGE BATTERY ELEMENTS FiledJan. 8, 1949 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

/RTHUR 7. LUN@ Jan. 6, 1953 A. n. LUND 2,624,106

APPARATUS RoR AssEMBLING STORAGE BATTERY ELEMENTS Filed Jan. 8. 1949 12Sheets-Sheetl 5 -327 .Ro-f L s/ -3za 8'@ INVENToR. F/C-li HRT/MH 0. Lu/vJan. 6, 1953 A. D. LUND 2,624,106

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING STORAGE BATTERY ELEMENTS Filed Jan- 8. 1949 l2Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TOR. M- l- HRW/UR D. LU/vn FTTDR/V YS A. D. LUND2,624,106

APPARATUS FOR AssEMBLING STORAGE BATTERY ELEMENTS Jan. 6, 1953 12Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 8, 1949 l INVENTQR. HRTHUR D. LUND BMLW @elJan. 6, 1953 A. D. LUND 2,624,106

APPARATUS RoR AssEMBLING STORAGE BATTERY ELEMENTS l2 Sheets-Sheet 8Filed Jam` 8. 1949 INVENTOR.

HTTRNEYS Jan. 6, 1953 A. D. LUND 2,624,106

APPARATUS RoR ASSEMBLING STORAGE BATTERY ELEMENTS Filed Jan. 8. 1949 12sheets-sheet 9 zag o 83 1N VEN TOR.

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HTTORNEYS Jan. 6, 1953 A. D. 'LUND 2,624,106

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING STORAGE BATTERY ELEMENTS Filed Jan. 8. 1949 12Sheets-Sheet l0 z TURKEY TRAVEL.

4 y JNVENTOR. /'7 '24 /RTHUH D. LLM/0 BY(l M HTTORNEYS A. D. LUND2,624,106

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING STORAGE BATTERY ELEMENTS Jan. 6, 1953 l2Sheets-Sheet 1l Filed Jan- 8, 1949 INVENTOR. /IRTHUR D. UND

BY MW @a TToR/VEYS Jan. 6, 1953 A. D. LUND 2,624,106

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLTNG STORAGE BATTERY ELEMENTS Filed Jan. s. 1949 12Sheets-Sheet 12 FTTOR/YE T6 Patented Jan. 6, 1953 APPARATUS FORASSEMBLING STORAGE BATTERY ELEMENTS Arthur D. Lund, Minneapolis, Minn.,assignor to Solar Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation ofDelaware Application January 8, 1949, Serial No. 69,963

(Cl. .Z9- 204) 4 Claims. 1

` This invention relates to an apparatus for assembling the positive andnegative plates and separators making up the cell units for storagebatteries and has as its primary object certain improvements in the typeof machines shown in my Patent No. 2,324,523, and in my prior copendingapplication, Serial No. 631,991, led November 30, 1945, now Patent No.2,523,910, issued September 26, 1950. In both instances, these machinesinclude a series of supply stations each with means for supportingstacks of plates or separators, and a series of collecting units orreceiving shelves operatively supported to move in succession past thestations. There is also provided means at the supply stations fortransferring the plates and separators in proper order to the collectingunits wherein these elements are assembled in stacks ready for removalfrom the machine and the subsequent and various operations of assemblyinto the batteries.

It is well known in the battery making art, at

the presen-t time, that the use of oxide reten-V tion mats, particularlyupon the opposite sides of the positive plates, is of considerableadvantage in that these mats retain the active material in the plate andprevent shedding of the material and also act to some extent as aninsulation. It is accordingly an important object of my presentinvention to provide means whereby such mats may be automaticallyapplied to the positive plates as these plates are transferred from theaforesaid supply stations into the collecting units. Thus, thisapplication of the glass mats takes place as a part of the completelyautomatic assembly and grouping of the plates and separators.

At present the mats used for the positive plates are made of spun glass,commonly called fiber glass, and this material is of a nature such thatit may be supplied in a roll and taken off the roll in such length asrequired. My present invention therefore has a further and importantobject the provision of feeding mechanism by which this type of materialmay be fed off of the roll and cut into proper lengths as required tofold around one edge of the positive plates and embrace both sidesthereof. This cutting and folding of the mat material takes place as thepositive plates are in the act of transfer from the supply stations tothe collecting units and in properly timed relation with this operation.

While I herein provide for the use of this ber glass material, and forits application to only the positive plates, it is contemplated thatother materials may be used whenever they are developed, that thematerials may be applied to the negative plates in addition to, orinstead of, the positive plates, and that such material, if its naturepermits, may even replace the separators as presently used. Theconstruction and the operation of my apparatus are such that all ofthese variations may be readily accommodated without material change ofthe apparatus.

My present invention further provides certain improvements in the feedmechanism by which the plates and separators are transferred to thecollecting units from the supply stations and these and other lessimportant objects will be made apparent in the course of the followingspecication.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view and side elevation of a positiveplate feeding station and showing the mat feeding mechanism associatedtherewith. This view further shows, in a radial section, one portion ofthe central operating mechanism which appears in more detail in my priorPatent No. 2,324,523.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the positive platestation and showing a lower part of the mat feed mechanism.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional and plan view takensubstantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, and showing the means foroperating the mat shearing mechanism.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section and inside end view takensubstantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2, and particularly showing themat shearing mechanism and adjacent parts of the positive plate station.

Fig. 5 has a sectional detail view along the line 5--5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the shearing mechanism for the mat, andadjacent parts of the structure, as viewed along the line 8-6 in Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a sectional detail view along the line 1-1 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an irregular sectional and outside end view of the positiveplate station, taken substantially along the line 8-8 in Fig. 2, andshowing in particular the plate feed mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional View substantially along the line 9-9 inFig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken at an insidecorner portion of the positive plate station and showing the arrangementof a roller by which the plate is laterally engaged for proper alignmentof the plate lugs in the collector, this view being taken along the linelll-I0 in Fig. 11.

Fig. ll is a vertical sectional View and elevation of the mechanism ofFig. as viewed along the line II-H in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary inside elevation of the mechanism shown inFigs. 10 and 11, and viewing the same as from the left hand side in Fig.11. The plane at which this view is taken is also indicated by the linelZ-I 2 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View along the line I3-I3in Fig. 2, and showing j the adjustable stop means for the mat material.The plane on which this view is taken is `further indicated by the linei3-l 3 in Fig. 14.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation, partially in vertical section of themechanism vand associated frame parts shown in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a horizontal sectionand plan view taken along the line |5| 5in Fig. 2.

Fig. 16 is a similar View taken at a lower plane and along the line i-I6 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged vertical cross section through the lower part ofthe positive plate hopper and-ejector as taken along the line I l-ll inFig. 2.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged side elevation through a central part of the matfeed mechanism as viewed along the line Iii-18 in Fig. 24.

Fig. 19 is an inside end View of certain parts, broken away and insection, and taken substantially along the line lS--i 9 in Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional View through the matfeed release mechanism and taken along the line 29-20 in Fig. 18.

Fig. 21 is a horizontal sectional View 'through the drive clutch andspeed change mechanism for the mat feed and taken along the line 2'I-2lin Fig. 19.

Fig. 22 is an enlarged sectional detail view through the manual releaseand the plate feeding mechanism which appears in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Fig. 23 is a sectional view along the line 23-23 in Fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a plan view of a positive plate station, the associated matfeed mechanism and a series of the collector units.

Figs. 25 through 28 are enlarged vertical sectional and diagrammaticviews of one of the picker units by which the plates are transferredfrom the supply station to the collector unit, and showing successivestages in the application of the mat to a positive plate as it is beingYtransferred. Figs. 27 and 28 also include in some detail the collectorunit itself.

Fig. 29 is a schematic View showing the wiring for the control andsignal switches for one station of the machine.

rihe ordinary storage battery cell unit comprises a series of positiveand negative grid plates alternately arranged and with each two adjacentplates separated by an insulating sheet generally made of wood andcommonly known as a separator. The positive plate side of each separatoris ribbed to provide space for the free circulation of the electrolyte.The positive and negative plates have lugs at their upper corners andthese lugs are reversed on the positive plates .from those on thenegative plates so that they may be bonded together and connected to theterminal posts which form the respective negative and positive outputconnections for the cell unit.

Throughout the drawings herein the positive plates are indicated at Pand in Figs. 27 Vand 28 I show a partial assembly in which the negativeplates are'indicated at N and the separators at S. The machine of thisapplication, in addition to performing the function of automaticallygroupthe plates to embrace theopposite sides thereof.

This mat, as will be clearly understood then fserves not only as anadded insulation between positive and negative plates in the group but,

'particularly if made of a fibrous material such as fiber glass, has thevery desirable added functionfof retaining the active pasty material inthe plate. As la matter of fact, the advantages flowing :from Tthe Zuse`of mats of this type in battery cell units are so well known as not torequire further explanation herein.

l:Actually the complete assembling machine is not shown in the drawingsherein inasmuch as iii-general its construction and operation isidentical to .that shown in my prior patents hereinbefore identified. InFigs. 1 and 24, there .appears at A a. rim portion of a circular turretwhich rotates in a horizontal plane witha step by step or intermittentmovement. This turret A rotates about an upright pedestal which is notshown herein but which is positioned at the center of a circularstationary Abase casting B having anannu'lar mounting shelf C whereonare mounted a plurality of stationary frames F extending in generallyradial directions with respect to the center of the machine. Provided inclosely spaced relation around .the outer edge of the turret A is aseries of collecting units or shelves designated generally at G whichtravel with the turret in a circular path about the series of frames F.Each of the aforesaid frames F carries at its'outer portion a supplystation, designated generally at H, and in setting'up the machine foroperation stacks or battery plates and separators are varranged in thestations H. In practice there will be .firstasta'ck of negativeiplatesand then a stack 'of separators, a stack of positive plates and anotherstack of separators and this 'arrangement .is repeated in successionaround the machine so that as the turret moves the Vcollector umts 'Garebrought in succession into a position for receiving theplates andseparators in proper order from the supply stations. By the operation.then of suitable feed mechanism and transfer devices as will be laterpointed out the negative and positive plates and separators kwill beaccumulated in stacks upon .thecollectorunits G and may be removed'therefrom when groups of the desired number of plates have been builtup. The -only manual operation necessary is the periodicreplenishment ofthe plates and separators in the supply stations, and periodic Aremovalof assemble-:i groups from the collector units.

`Also forming part of the machine as disclosed in my earlier patentsthere is a vertically reciprocable `hub .or crosshead mounted Vabout theaforesaid pedestaLof which vhub the rim portion appears at I in Fig. l.As pointed out Iby the patents this hub I is moved up and down intimedrelation or synchronism with the'intermittent rotative movements ofthe turret A and this movement is lemployed to operate the feed andtransfer mechanisms for the plates at the respective `supply stations ofthe present'machine. For Ythis purpose there isrnounted at each of thestationary frames :F a bell crank lever J fulcrumed at K on the frame,andonenarm of each bell crank lever is `pivoted at Lto the rim 'I ofresult the aforesaid up and down movements of the hub will oscillate thebell crank levers J in vertical and radial planes. A positive platesupply station or hopper, and feed mechanism, will now be described indetail and reference is directed particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 8, 9, 15,16 and 1'1, wherein these parts are shown to best advantage. The supplystation comprises as its primary supporting element a hollow housing ofirregular shape, indicated generally at 30, which is adjustably mountedupon the outer end of the associated frame F as will presently appear.The upper edges of the side walls 3l of the housing 30 are outwardlyflanged as indicated at 32 and supported atop the housing is a grilllikehopper bottom plate having a plurality of spaced bars 33 between whichare wide slots 34 opening out through the inner end facing the turret A.The hopper bottom further includes a frame 35 which is secured to theflanges 32 by bolts 36. The purpose of this grill construction for thehopper bottom is to permit any oxide, which may be displaced from theplates to fall down through the housing 30, and this material is thencollected in a drawer 31 which closes the open lower end 38 of thehousing. The drawer 31 may, of course, be periodically removed fordisposal of the accumulated material therein.

The plates are arranged in stacks upon the hopper bottom and held insuch position by inner and outer hopper ends indicated generally at 39and 40. In Fig. 16 there is shown a stack of the positive plates Ppositioned between these hopper ends and it will be noted that the innerend has grooves 4| extending vertically to accommodate the usual feetformed on the bottom of the plates, While the outer hopper end 40 has avertically extending recess 42 to accommodate the plate lugs. The innerhopper end 39 comprises a stationary arched frame casting 43 which isbolted as at 44 to the frame 35 and the sides of this casting are joinedby an arch or yoke 45. A vertically adjustable gate or end plate 46 isslidably mounted between the sides 43 in suitable guides 41, and at itscenter this gate 46 has a split and tapped lug 48 through which isthreaded the lower end of an adjusting screw 49. The lug 48 may bepulled together by a cap screw 50 to tighten it upon the threads of thescrew 49 so that vibrations will not aifect the adjustments of the gate46. The feed screw 49 extends upwardly through the yoke 45 and isprovided with a micrometer adjustment head 5| by which it may be turnedin order to make very precise vertical adjustments of the gate. Thepositive plates may be moved, one at a time, inwardly toward the turretunder the gate 46 and the purpose of the micrometer adjustment of thegate is to vary the opening, indicated at 52 in Fig. 2, between thelower edge of the gate and the hopper bottom, or upper faces of the bars33, according to the different thicknesses in which the positive platesare manufactured. Since, as will be pointed out, plates are strippedfrom the bottom of the stack in the hopper, this adjustment must be madein order that the plates will be accurately fed, one at a time. Fig. 2,the hopper bottom bars 33 extend some distance inwardly from the gate 46in order tov provide a support for the plates as they are stripped fromthe stack, and in order to hold the plates against upward displacementthe plate 46 has hold down feet 53 extending inwardly in the samedirection.

The gate 46 is vertically slotted to accommodate studs 46a having locknuts 46b and these are adthe hub. As a Further as shown in- 6 justed tofrictionally hold the gate to the casting 43 but permit the aforesaid upand down adjustment of the gate.

In addition to the difference in the thickness of the plates they aremade in varying heights, and the outer hopper end 46 is made adjustableto accommodate these variations in plate sizes. This end 40 thus has anoutwardly extending horizontal base plate 54 which is slotted at itsside as indicated at 55 to accommodate cap screws 56 by which the plateis fastened to the hopper frame 35. The purpose of these slots 55 is ofcourse to permit adjustment of the hopper end 4l) toward and away fromthe inner end 39 in such fashion as to accommodate the hopper to thedifferent sizes of plates.

The inner edges of the housing ilanges 32 are grooved as indicated at 51to slidably accommodate a stripper cross head 58 so that this cross headmay slide beneath the hopper inwardly and outwardly or radially withrespect to the turret A. The cross head 53 has spaced upwardlyprojecting ribs 59 arranged loosely in the slots 34 in the hopper bottomand projecting slightly above the level of the bars 33 as shown in Fig.17. Placed upon the upper edges of these ribs 59 and secured thereto, asby means of rivets 66, is a thin stripper plate 62 adapted to travelabove the bottom of the hopper, with the cross head. It will be notedthat the bottom piate 54 of the outer hopper end 45 is undercut at 63 toprovide clearance for this stripper plate and further` that the stripperplate is supported clear of the bars 33 so that it does not contact themas it travels and wear by such contact. In its normal or inoperativeposition, shown in Figs. 2 and l5, the stripper plate 62 is locatedoutwardly of the hopper and therefore clear of the stack of platestherein, but by inward movement of the cross head 58 the stripper platemay be moved inwardly toward the turret as indicated in Fig. 16 and willforce the lowermost plate of the stack inwardly through the opening 52.

The stripper cross head 53 has transversely spaced depending bearingslugs 64 which carry a pin 65 whereon is pivoted the inner end of anadjustable connecting rod indicated generally at 66. The outer end ofthe connecting rod isV attached, as will be presently described, to anactuating lever indicated generally at 61 pivotally mounted upon a crossshaft 58 arranged transversely at the lower, outer part of the housing3Q. This actuating lever 61 is thus mounted for oscillation at its upperend in a vertical plane and inwardly and outwardly with respect to themachine to thus reciprocate the stripper plate 62 as necessary forstripping the plates from the stack. The lever 61 moves through a fixedstroke and in order to accommodate this stripping stroke of fixedamplitude to plates of different heights the connecting rod 66 is madeadjustable as to length to thereby position the leading or working edgeof the stripper plate 62 according to adjustments made on the outerhopper end 46 as previously described. The connecting rod 66 thuscomprises a pivot casting 59 pivotally mounted on the aforesaid pin 65and at its outer end the casting 69 has a threaded socket lil in whichis rotatably mounted the head 1| of an adjusting screw 12, held againstaxial displacement in the socket by a tubular plug 13 screwed thereinto.The usual clamp screw 12 is provided to prevent displacement of theseparts and the screw 12 is threaded through a diametrical tapped bore ina pin 15 pivoted in the upper end of the actuating'lever ity-'1. The.outer end .of A-the screw T2 has a conventional tting 16 and byswinging down a door 'Il on the outer side of the `housing 3i! thistting will be exposed for manipulation by a speed wrench to turn thescrew. It .is Vobvious that such manipulation of the screw 'i2 will varythe distance between the axes of the pins 65 and 'l5 and thereforeadjust the stripper cross head with reference to the normal position ofthe stationary lever, and in effect position the working edge of thestripper plate with reference to the `stack of plates, as should beclearly understood. Thus the Vlower edges of .the 'plates will be movedinwardly from the hopper always to the same point, regardless of theheight of the plates.

The actuating lever l is of two part construction and comprises a forkedsection 'i8 having spaced bearings 79 at its lower end by which it isrotatably mounted upon the aforesaid shaft 58. A cross pin l5 is alsomounted between bearings il@ at the upper end of this section. Mountedbetween the sides of the lever Ysec-- tion 'i8 is another section 8lhaving a bearing 82 at its lower end secured by a set screw 83 to theshaft 58 to swing therewith. The lever section 8i has an inwardlyextending forked portion 811 connected by a pin 85 and the inner lowerend of a retractile coil spring BE is hooked over this pin as shown in1Eig. 2. At some distance from the upper ends of the sides of the leversection 'F8 a web 8l is formed having an opening toaccommodate a eyebolt 88 to which the outer and upper end of the spring st is attached.The lever sections 7B and 8| have cooperating stop lugs 89 which asshown in Fig. 9 normally are 'held in contact by the tension of thespring St so that the two lever sections operate as a unit. In order toswing this actuating lever assembly, and operate the stripper cross headas previously described, a pull rod indicated generally at 9G ispivotally attached at QI to an upper end portion of the lever section 8!and extends downwardly and inwardly through the frame F to a point e2 atwhich the rod is pivoted to the lower end of the lever J. It will be atonce apparent then that the upward movement of the operating hub I fromits normal position `shown in Fig. 1 will swing this lower end of thelever J inwardly and the pull of the rod 9G upon the lever 'section 3iwill swing both lever sections TB--BI inwardly and move the strippercross head 58 to the limit of its inward or working stroke. As theactuating hub I returns to starting position .the lever 67 will, ofcourse, be returned by the rod 96 to its starting position, returningthe stripper cross head to its normal position. It will be apparenthowever, that should a plate jam in the hopper for any reason thetension of the spring et will be overcome, and the lever section 8l mayswing inwardly alone so that the parts will not be damaged.

When a jam thus occurs it is, of course, necessary that it be manuallycleared and for this purpose the shaft t8 is extended through one sidewall Si of the housing 3u and mounted on the shaft outside the housingis a hand lever 93. This lever is pinned at l to the shaft SB to turntherewith in normal operation of the parts. When a jam occurs the stackof plates is removed from the hopper and the broken or otherwise damagedplates removed. A new plate is then inserted and may be moved inwardlyby swinging the hand lever VQ3 and operating .the actuating lever 61 bythe shaft 68 so that the new 4plate will be moved tito transferring:position .in .order not to .interfere with ithe vtiming of the machineasa whole. `So that 4this feeding operation may be carried out the .pullrod .9!! is made in inner and outer sections 95 .and 95 and theinner'seotion 95 (asbest shown in Fig. 122) has a tubular end 9'!telescopically receiving the inner end oi. the section 95. The tubularsection 91 also lhas a downwardly `extending latch housing 98 in whichlis slidabl-y and non-rotatably mounted a latch pin 9e having Ya taperedupper end 'Il normally seating 'in a notch 'lill in the rod section 96.The pin 99 is urged to such position by a coil spring m2 and thus thetwo rod sections and :le are `normally connected to operate as a unit. Acam ft Vhaving a handle |04 is pivotally attached Ato the lower end ofthe latch pin 9%? however, and by -manipulation of this cam it will beobvious that the pin may be pulled down to 'release its end from thenotch IUI permitting relative axial movements of the rod section-3. Whenthe jam has been cleared, as aforesaid, the handle lli is thus'operatedand it effectively disconnects the levers il? and JS from the lever Jwhich normally actuates them and permits these levers to be operated byhand in order to feed the plate through its normal inward feeding traveland :return the levers 6? and Q3 to their normal outer positions will beunderstood. T'he handle lee is then operated to restore the connectionbetween the pin 99 and the notch mi `placing the lever 6l again undercontrol oi the lever J for automatic operation.

It is, of course, necessary 'that the machine be stopped when the ljamoccurs as just above described, or when for any reason a plate fails tofeed from the hopper, since otherwise the timing of the operation as awhole would be completely interrupted. For this purpose a conventionallever operated .electric switch mais mounted to one side of the inner ordelivery end of the hopper upon a iiange muon the inner hopper endcasting d3 as is shown'in Figs. 1 and 4.

The actuating arm llof the switch m5 carries a small roller `NBS whichnormally hangs by gravityin the .path of the plate emerging through thehopper 52. In this pcsition of the arm |01 the switch it is opened andwhen a plate emerges from the yhopper it-contacts the roller i 98swinging the arm Idil upwardly and closing the switch. A similar switchme ismounted on the side wall 3i of the housing 3Q inwardly of the lhandlever e3 and the .actuating arm El@ of this switch has a roller l Hwhich rides on and is normally held upwardly by a cam surface 'i lformed on an inward vextension HS of the lever. In this position of thearm .lit the switch |69 is also closed. The cam surface -I l2 iscentered about the axis of the shaft 63 and is of such length arcuatelythat for the initial inward movement Yof the hand lever 93, occurring asthe feed motion of the plate starts, the switch will be held in thisclosed position. About the time, however, that the plate engages andraises the roller its closing the'switch its 'the roller l il'controlling switch i'inoves ofi" the cam surface li 2 and drops into alower arcuate edge lili of the hand lever permitting the arm lit toswing downwardly and open the switch lili). As will be presently pointedout the switches l 215 and 59 are wired in parallel and placed in .thecircuit controlling the motor which operates the machine as a whole, insuch manner that both of the switches must be opened before the circuitto the motor is interrupted. In operation, if a plate fails to feed fromthe hopper so that the switch remains open, then as soon as the lever 93swings through its initial inward movement the switch |09 will also beopened and the machine will stop. On the other hand if a plate does feedfrom the hopper the switch |05 will of course be closed and the openingof the switch |09 during the latter part of the feeding motion will nothalt the operation of the machine.

Referring now to Fig. 9 there is shown a pair of switches of the plungeractuated type designated at ||5 and ||6 which are mounted upon theinward extending portion 84 of the lever section 8|. A switch arm ||1 ispivoted at ||8 adjacent to these switches and has an end ||9 carryingadjustable set screws for operating the respective plungers of theswitches. A pin |v on the side of the lever section 18 engages a cam end|2| of the arm H1 and the lever 'is held in such position by a smallcoil spring |22. The arrangement is obviously such that when a jamoccurs and the lever section 8| moves 'inwardly independently of thelever section 18 the pin |20 will cam the end |2| of the arm ||1downwardly causing the set screws on its end ||9 to engage and operateboth switches 5 and H6. Referring now to Fig. 29 a circuit embracing theswitches |05, |09, H5, and H6 will now be described. The actuating motorfor driving the machine is indicated at |23 and from the electricalsupply a conductor |24 is connected to one terminal thereof. The otherconductor |25 from the supply is connected to the switch |l5 and thisswitch is of the normally closed type, which is opened by actuating ofthis plunger. The aforesaid switches |05 and |09 are connected inparallel by conductors |25 and |21 and this parallel bank of switches isconnected by a conductor |28 to the switch ||5 and by conductors |29 tothe other terminal of the motor |23. Thus the action of the switch arm||1 as the two sections of the actuating lever 61 pull apart will openthe switch I5 to immediately interrupt the circuit to the motor |23 andstop the machine. Likewise and as has been previously described theopening of both of the switches |05 and |09 will interrupt the circuitto the motor even if the switch ||5 remains closed, as will be readilyunderstood. The switch H9 operates to control a signal lamp |30 whichmay be mounted upon the outer portion of the hopper and this switch isconnected by conductors |3| between the lamp andone side of the supplycircuit. The lamp is of course permanently attached to the other side ofthe circuit as clearly shown. The switch ||6 is of the normally opentype and the same operation of thelever ||1 which stops the machine asaresult of a jam will thus close the circuit to the signal lamp |30giving a warning to the operator that the jam has occurred at thatparticular station.y The circuit here described is of course for exampleonly andmay be duplicated at each supply station in order to provideprotection against damage and against interruption of the timing of themachine, and further to indicate to the operator at what station themalfunction has occurred.

The collecting cr receiving units G each `comprise a shelf or bottom |35having an opening |35 toward the stations C so that the undersides of agroup of plates may be readily vgrasped in removing them from the shelf.The kshelf |35 continues upwardly from its rear or inner end in avertical back wall i 31 which terminates at its seen in Fig. 1.

upper edge in an inwardly turned flange |38 through which pass screws|32 which mount the collecting units on the turret A. The back wall |31is also cut out centrally, as at |39, forming an opening through whichthe picker or transfer mechanism may pass as will be pointed out. EX-tending upwardly from the sides of the shelf |35 are side walls |40secured to the shelf edges by screws |4| and thus is formed a receptaclein which the plates may be evenly stacked, said receptacle being openoutwardly toward the stations I-I to receive plates therefrom and beingopen at the top for removing accumulated plate groups.

Plates, and separators, are transferred from the stations H to thecollecting shelves |35 by gripper means or transfer mechanisms eachcomprising a picker head |42 which is supported at the forward or outerend of a slide |43 (Fig. l), carried in slideways or channels formed inthe upper edges of the frames F beneath the turret A. Thisslide |43 ismoved inward and outward in radial directions by a link |45 which ispivotally connected at one end to the underside of the slide at |46 andat its other end is pivoted at |41 to the upper end of the bell cranklever J. The arrangement is such that upward movement of the hub I aspreviously described will swing the upper end of the bell crank lever Joutward to project the picker head |42 from its normal position of Fig.1 outward through the opening |38 in the shelf back wall |31, and outover the shelf as seen in Figs..2'1 and 28. Return movement of the hub Iwill dr-aw back the picker head until it will clear the collecting unitG, as

The picker heads |42 each comprise an L-shaped body or frame having anupstanding back or tang portion |49 grooved at its rear or inner face tot the vertical end face of an end -or head casting |52 secured to theforward or outer end of the slide |43. A stud bolt |53 projects from theface |5| through the tang |49 and a nut on the stud is used to lock theframe to the slide. Secured to the underside of the frame and projectingoutwardly therefrom is a bottom plate |55, and above this plate, at eachside there is a picker dog |51 pivoted at |58 on the sides of the pickerframe. The dogs |51 extend forwardly over the plate |55 and at theirfree ends are urged downwardly toward and against the plate by anysuitable spring mechanism, such as that shown in my prior application.The free, outer ends of the dogs |51 are beveled upwardly and forwardlyas at |59 so that a plate or separator may be readily slipped inwardlybeneath the dogs and held flat against and upon the plate |55 by thespring tension on the dogs. Also for this purpose of guiding a plateinto the picker the forward or outer edge portion of the plate |55 isbeveled off downwardly and outwardly as indicated at |60.

In the operation of the machine (as thus far described) as the collectorunit G moves up in alignment with the supply station H it is temporarilylocked in such position. The actuating hub I is moved first' upwardlyand then downwardly in completing the transfer of one plate from thestack to the collector and the upward movement of this member I will, aspreviously pointed out, strip the lowermost positive plate from thestack in the hopper and force it inwardly toward the collecting unit. Atthe same time the picker head |42 moves outwardly through the open back|39 of the collector unit Gand prior to the completion of thesemovements the ejected plate P is forced beneath thepicker dogs |51, and,as indicated in Fig. 26, the picker dogs thus obtain a grip upon theedge of the plate. As this occurs the motions ofthe stripper plate andpicker head are reversed and' they return toward their startingpositions. The picker head, ofcourse, carries along the plate pullingyit into the collector unit G over the bottom |35 thereof, and as thepicker head moves back through the opening |39 the edge ofthe platestrikes the edges of this opening and the picker thusr is caused todisengage and drop the plate upon the-bottom of the collector. The samecollector unit is then moved to the next station where it will receive aseparator in the same fashion and when this collector unit has traversedall the supply stations there will have been accumulated a stack ofpositive and negative plates and interleaved separators all in theproper order and ready for removal as a group. It is.y of course,understood and has been more completely described in my earlierdisclosures that all of the collector units G simultaneously receive aplate or separator as the case may be so that the accumulation ofbattery groups is rapidlyv carried out bythe machine.

As set forth in my prior patents thebattery plates themselves arestopped short" of meeting the back |31 ofl each collector unit by meansof fingers |62 carried by vertically slidably stop rods |63 associatedwith the collecting units. Normally these ngers |62 will rest of theirown weight upon the collector bottom |35 or upon the uppermost batteryelement therein but as each collector-unit moves up to a separatorsupply station the rods |63 are elevated so that the stops |62- willclear the separator entering the collector unit. This is for the purposeof arranging the separators in offset relation, away from the lugs ofthe plates, until these lugs have been burned to the connecting straps.For operating the rods |63 arms |64 are pivoted at |65 to eachstationary frame F and have rollers |66 resting upon cam surfaces |61*ELon the levers J. The arms |64 are normally pulled downward by coilsprings |65a but as the lever J operates the stripper plate and pickerhead to transfer plates and separators into the collector units the camsurface |61a will swing the outer end of the arm |64 upwardly. At eachstation'whi'ch feeds the separators the outer end of the arm |64 has alifting bar- |66 which engages the lower ends ofthe rods |63 andelevates the stops |62 as has just` been described. At the stationshandling the battery platesthemselves the lifting bars |66 will'beomitted and the upward movement of' the arms |64 will ofcourse have noeffect on the rods 63. Also as pointed out in more detail in my earlierapplication the arm |64 operates presser rods |61 also slidablevertically on the collector units and'these rods |61 carry straps |68 onwhich are pads |69 and |10 for the purpose of holding the accumulated'stackI of! plates against displacement and' for" guiding each plate asit is dropped from the picker head. Forthe operation of the rods |61thearms |64 will at each station carry a` contacty plate |11V so thatv thepads will" be ele vated from, the stack as each plate or separatorispulled into the collector' unitk as shown: in Fig. 28.

It will of course be understood that the elevation of the supply stationand picker units will vary around the machine in order to compensate forthe growing height of the accumulated stacks in the collectors as themachine runs and for this purpose shims |12 of varying thicknesses areplaced'between the framesF and the base C so: that'r they stations.themselves increase in elevation progressively around the machine.Likewise the studs |53 mounting the picker heads to the picker slideareV arranged inslots so that the picker heads may be adjusted inelevation as will: readilybey understood. The machine once set up inthis fashion willoperate on plates of, say, two closely relatedthicknesses such as plates of 11s and g3g inch in thickness. From timeto time, however, heavier plates of 1/8 of an inch or more thicknessmust be handled and the picker heads are provided with adjustments forthis purpose as pointed out in my earlier: patents while I herein showthesupply stations as slidably mounted at the inner vertical edges oftheir housingsAv in vertical slides |13 at the outerY ends of thestationary framesF. As best shown in Figs. 2 andieach frame Fhas atransverse web |14 inl which is rotatably mounted an adjusting screw |15threaded at |16 into a lugY |11 at the inner end1 of thehousing. Thescrewy |15 is locked as clearly shown against upward or downwarddispl-acement'and it may, of course, bel turned to moveI theA housing30V upwardly or downwardly with respect to the frame F. The downwardmovement is limited by a stop screw |18 threaded upthrough the web |14to` bearcagainst the lower edge: |f19of theV housing while the upwardmovement of the housing is limited by a stud depending through anopening |8| in the web and provided with lock nuts |82 therebelow. Inpractice thegscrew |18 and the nuts; |62Y will be adjusted-v ateachstationwso. that a normal lower position, atwhich themachineis preset tohandle thethinner plates-it"will only be necessary to run up-theadjusting screws |15 until the upward motion is stopped by the nuts |82in order to adjust-.thestations for the thicker plates.

At each station handling the battery plates I provide an aligningroller'operative to contact the edge of the plate as'it emerges from thehopper and urge its opposite edge against the side of thedeliveryopening 52 of the hopper in order toaccurately deliver eachplate. These rollers will engage the edges of the plate opposite thelugszthereon and will thus be reversed or arranged upon oppositev sidesof the stations handling positive. and negative plates, as will beunderstood. As shown-inFigs. 2, 9, l0, l1 and l2 the roller for thepositivelplate stationis indicated at |83 and it is journaled on a pin|84 at the upper end of av swingable arm |85 having hinge lugs |86pivotallymounted upon a vertical pin |81. This pin |81k is carried inlugs |88 at the forward corner portion of the supply station housing 3Uso that the.- arm |85 extends-inwardly and positions the roller |83,alongside the inner edge of the hopper bottom as best shownA in Figs. 2and 4. The roller |83 is yieldably biased toward the path of theplatemoving-outwardly onv the hopper bottom by means ofv an expansioncoil spring |83 braced between a lug- |98 on the arm |85 and an adjacentcorner portion |9| of the housing. Such movement. of; the roller |83 bythe spring |89 is limited by-a stop-screwA |92.. threaded through alower offset portion |83 ofthe lever |85 and engaging the inner side ofthe housing 38 as shown in Fig. l1. Thus in its normal position theroller |83 will stand in the path of the edge of a positive plateopposite that carrying its lug and so that as the plate is stripped fromthe stack and movedI inwardly toward the picker head the plate will beurged laterally or transversely causing its edge to ridethe edge'of theopening 52. Thus in a vertical guideway 219 'casting 43 of the inner theedges of the plates will all be accurately aligned in the group. Thepressure of the roller on the plate must however be relieved as it isgrasped by the picker head |42 and before the plate entirely leavesotherwise the roller pressure would no doubt shift the plate from itsprealigned position. For this purpose the roller |33 is moved outwardlyor away from the edge of the plate, in properly timed relation to thefeeding and transferring actions, by means of a push rod |94 slidablymounted in apertured lugs |95 formed on the inside of the adjacentwall3| of the supply station housing 39. At its inner end this push rod |94projects loosely through an opening |96 in the inner wall |91 of thehousing and at this inner end the rod contacts an adjustable set screw|99 in the aforesaid offset portion |93 of the arm |85. Intermediate itsends the push rod |94 is provided with an adjustable stop collar |99 andthe actuating lever section 8| has an upward projection 299 carrying atits upper end a laterally extending pin 29|. The stop collar |99 is sopositioned that as the actuating lever swings inwardly to feed a platetoward the picker head the pin 29| will contact the collar and urge thepush rod |94 inward against the set screw |98 to thus swing the arm |85and move the roller |83 clear of the plate. The roller |93 must be heldin this position, however, until the plate is entirely clear, and Iaccordingly provide a latch 292 pivotally mounted on a stud 293 at theouter end of the housing 39 and having a hook 294 arranged to dropbehind the end of the rod |94 as it is engaged and moved inward by thepin 29| as above described. The inner end of the latch 292 is pulleddownward for this purpose by a light coil spring 295, andthe latch willhold the rod |94 in position for clearing the roller |83 from the plateuntil the actuating lever 61 returns to its starting position ready tofeed a new plate. As this occurs a pin 296 upon the lever 61 engages theupper end 291 of the trigger swinging the aforesaid hook 294 upwardclear of the rod |94 and the spring |89 then immediately restores theparts to position for operation upon the next plate.

The mat feeding and cutting mechanism will now be described in detailand this mechanism is `shown as arranged in connection with the positiveplate supply station H although it will of course be understood thatnegative supply stations may be so equipped mats to the negative plates,as has been pointed out hereinbefore. As its primary supporting elementthe feed mechanism includes a frame casting, designated generally at298, having a vertical tang portion 299 at its outer side which, as bestshown in Figs. l and 18, is slidably mounted which forms an upwardextension at one side of the rigidly mounted hopper end 39. An adjustingscrew 2|| is rotatably mounted in a lug 2|2 formed on the outer side ofthe tang 299 and the lower threaded end of this screw operates in thethreaded bore of a lug y2 |3 extended from the outer side of theguideway 2|9. The screw 2|| isv similar to the screw |15 for adjustingthe supply stations and the rotation of this screw 2| will obviouslyraise and lower the frame casting 299 with respect to the station. Suchadjustments of the frame 293 are made to vaccommodate the mat feedmechanism to plates of varying height as will later be pointed out inmore detail. The frame casting 298 is .irregular in the supply stationsince if it is desired to apply- `clutch ring 231 and its shape andformed to support a. considerable number of the elements making up themat feed mechanism, and it includes near its upper end an elbowextension 2|4 whereon is mounted an electric motor 2|5 having itsdriving shaft turned inwardly toward the turret A. Mounted on this innerend of the motor 2|5 is a speed reducer unit 2|6 having output shafts2|1 and 2 8 extending in opposite directions as best shown in Figs. 19and 24. The motor 2|5 drives a pair of upper, pull-off rolls 2|9 and220, and a, pair of lower feed rolls 22| and 222, and the mat materialwhich is in the form of a flexible ribbon is fed between these pairs ofrolls from a large supply roll or coil 223 supported in an overheadbracket or support 224, which may be hung from the ceiling or any otheroverhead structure above the machine. The mounting and drive for thelower feed rolls 22|- 222 will rst be described in detail. The roll 222has an axially extending shaft 225 journaled through a lower portion ofthe frame casting 298 and provided at its end with a drive gear 226. Theother feed roll 22|, as best shown in Fig. 19 has a similar shaft 221which is journaled in bearings in the lower end 228 of a swingingcarrier 229 pivoted at 239 to the frame casting. The carrier 229 permitsrelative movements between the feed rolls 22| and 222 and the rolls arenormally urged together by a coil spring 23 9a appearing in Fig. 18 inorder to provide for a frictional driving engagement between the rollsand material passing therebetween in a well known manner. The shaft 221also has a drive gear 23| on its end meshing with the drive gear 223 sothat the rolls are positively driven in opposite directions and it will,of course, be understood that the drive is such that the inner, facingsurfaces of the rolls will move in a downward direction. The feed rolls22| and 222 project from the frame casting 298 above the delivery end ofthe hopper bottom and a vertical plane passing between the feed rollswill intersect the point at which the picker head |42 meets a plate asit is fed from the hopper. The axes of the feed rolls are horizontallyaligned and extend transversely with reference to the direction ofmovement of the plate and of the picker head for purposes later to bedescribed. The output shaft 2|1 from the motor driven gear unit 2 6drives the feed rolls 22 |222 and as best shown in Fig. 2l the shaft 2|1 has pinned thereto a flanged collar 232 upon which is fastened aclutch ring 233. The collar 232 includes an extension shaft 234 on whichis a bushing 235 rotatably supporting the sleeve 236 of a cooperatingclutch ring 231 facing the ring 233. A collar 239 is rotatably mountedupon the shaft 234 and is keyed as indicated `at 239 to turn with thesleeve 236. A nut 249 on an end of the shaft 234 engages the bearing 23|mounting the collar 239 and prevents its axial displacement. Anexpansion coil spring 242 is coiled around a reduced neck portion of thesleeve 236 and braced against the collar 238, and the spring thusyieldably urges the clutch ring 231 into frictional, driving contactwith the ring 233. Thus the sleeve extension 236 are normally driven bythe motor 2|5 but the drive may be disengaged at any time by locking thering 231 so that the cooperating clutch surfaces slip as will beunderstood and as will be presently pointed out. Three change speedgears 242, 243, and 244 are mounted upon the sleeve 236 to turntherewith and a gear 245 arranged upon the frame casting 298 below thisclutch structure mayy be engaged with; anyoneof the three gearsand;driven by the clutch., The gear 245 in turn meshes with a wide facedgear 24.6 journaled upon a stud 241 extended fromY the frame casting andthe latter gear 246 meshes constantly with the gear 226 to complete thechain of drive to the feed' rolls 22| and 222. The gear 245 has a hub248 adapted to journal upon a stud 249 which may be screwed, asindicated at 250 (Fig. 19) into any one of`a Series of three tappedsockets 250a which are arranged to maintain the gear 245 inmesh with thegear 246, While permitting engagement of the gear 2,45 with any one of,the three gearsV 242, 243' and 244 driven by the clutch unit. It will beapparentthat the purpose of the stepped gears 242 through 244 is to varythe driven speed of the feed rolls 212| and 222 and the arrangementprovidesfor three different speeds for these rolls. The gear 245 must,of course', be properly aligned with the gears 242 through 244 and forthis purpose there is provided a collar shown in Fig. 19; which when.removed will offset the gear 245 to mesh with the gear 243. To mesh thegear 245 with the gear 244 the collar 25| is alsoA removed and the gearv245 is turned over' placing its hub 248 to: the outside. In each casethe collar 25| will be arranged to the out side of the gearupon the stud249 so that it may be properly turned home in the sockets 25|.

Normally the `clutch ring 23,1 and the attached drive' gearsare lockedagainst rota-tion' so thatthe clutch slips, by means of' a catch or stopfinger 254' which overlies a radiallyprojectinglug- 255 upon this clutchring. mounted at the upper end of-a shaft 255 journaled vertically7 inapertured bearings 251 on the. frame casting and' adjacent its lower endthe shaft 255 has an oppositely or inwardly projecting finger 2555 towhich is attached |a coil spring 259 extending to a pin 26u upon anadjacent surface of the frame casting. The spring 259 biases the shaft255 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed from above as in Fig. 21,and in this normal position the finger 254 engages the lug 255 andthenger stops against an abutment 26| upon the upper bearing 251. Forcooperation with the finger 252 each of the collector units G as shownin Figs. 18 and 24 is equipped with a bracket 2552 having verticallyspaced ends-through which extends a pin 253 mounting a verticallyelongated trip roller 2&4. These rollers 254' thus are so mounted thatthey will in succession engage the finger 255 as the turret Arotates'and in passing will rotate the shaft 256 against the tension ofthe spring 253 and move the finger 254 clear of the lug 255. Each timethis action takes place the clutch mechanism is, of course, released todrive the change speed gears 242-244 and' they willlmalre one completerevolution, until the lug 255 again comes up to against the nger 254. Itwill be understood that as the rollers 264' pass they will first thusoperate the shaft 25B, and then will clear the finger 253 so that theshaft will return to its normal position shown in Fig; 2l. Thus as eachof the collector units G passes each ofthe mat feed mechanism the gearassembly 242 through 244 will be driven through one complete revolution,and this motion will be transmitted through the gear train to the feedrolls 22 |-222y causing a rotation of predetermined duration of theserollers, in timed relation to the operation ofthe machine as a Whole.

The purpose of vertically elongating the trip rollers 2G4zis, of course,to insure the proper oper- TheV stopv finger 254 is I 116 ation of thetri-p finger 258 regardless. of the height to which thesupply stations`and mat feed mechanisms may be adjusted.

rEhe upper'pull-oY rolls 2 |9-22'\are driven by theA shaft 249 extendingfrom the opposite. side of the speedreducerunit 2|@ andthis drive mechanismV and the support for the rolls will now be described. The roll 2 9has a long axially extend- .ing support shaft 251 which is journaled inand throughA a tubular bearing 25B forming a part of the casting 235,and `oetween the rolls themselves and the adjacent end of this bearingthe. shaft carries a gear 2%9. The other pull-off roll has a similar butshorter supporting shaft 219 which is journaled at the lower end of acarrier 21|-, pivoted at 212 to an upper corner portion of the frameycasting 299v so that relative movements between the pull-olf rolls ispermitted exactly as described for the feed rolls 22|-222. A spring 213engages the carrier 21|' to urge the pull-off rolls together and theshaft 210 also has a gear 214' meshing with the gear 259 tol causefthetwo rollsv to operate in unison and rotate downwardly at their facingsides. It will thus be seen that by driving'the shaft 261 both of thepull off rolls will be rotated and this shaft is operated by a gear 215mounted upon the motor driven shaft 218 through an idler gear 216 and alarger gear 21i1fas'seenv in Fig. 19. Here again provision is made fordriving the rolls at selected different speeds' and for this purpose thedrive gear 215 has two separate sets or rows of teeth of different pitchdiameter and the gears 216 and 211 may be driven by either'of'these setsof teeth. The idler gear 215'is accordingly journaled at the end of anarm 218 having a collar portion 219'rotatably mounted' about a reducedneck 28e formed atthe Iadjacent endof' the bearing 248'. The -collar'219is split and provided with a clamp screw 28| so that the arm 218 may bereleased and swung about the axis of the shaft 291'. To change speed thegear 215 is switched end for end upon the drive shaft 2i8 to bringeither of its tvvo sets of teeth to position for meshing with the gear216 andthe arm 218 is adjusted'toV maintain proper meshing relationshipbetween the several gears, and is then refastened by a clamp screw 28|.

The gear 211, as best shown in Fig. 20, is journaled with respect to theshaft 251 upon bushings 282 and the hub of this gear has clutch teeth283 engaging similar teeth upon a clutch |collar 284 slidably keyed asat 255 upon the shaft. The

collar 284 isgrooved to accommodate a shipper fork 285' which is securedto the end of a clutch rod 281 slidably mounted in lugs 288 on the upperside of the bearing 258 and an expansion coil spring 229! is bracedbetween theA fork 285 andthe adjacent lug 288 thus normally urging thecollar 284 in the direction of the gear'211 and effectively butreleasably locking said' gear to rotate withv and drive the roll shaft261. As seen in Fig. 19 the clutch rod`281' is connected to the plunger292 of a clutch operating solenoid29l mounted atop the bearing 269-' andfor this purpose the plunger 298 is connected asA indicated at 292 tolan ear 293 attached by a collar 294'. to the rod. Normally, of course,the gear 211 is connected to drive the shaft 261 and rotate the pull-offrolls 2|9--220, but bya suitable control circuit the solenoid 29| may beoperated at lany time to disengage the clutch` teeth 283 so that therolls are stopped, although the motorV 2|5 continues to run. The purposeof this control will be presently made clear.

lnpractice the ribbon-like mat material is

